Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Peru for First Visit Since His Election

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, November 11, beginning his first visit to the country since his election. His aircraft landed at Callao Air Base at 5:01 p.m. local time, according to the Holy See. Peru is the third and final stop of his South American journey, following Uruguay and Argentina. President Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi and Foreign Minister Carlos Espá welcomed him at the air base. Two children presented flowers, and a choir of 27 children from Sinfonía por el Perú sang during the reception. Leo also stopped to bless people with disabilities and several babies as he greeted those gathered to receive him. Later, addressing authorities and the diplomatic corps at Lima’s Gran Teatro Nacional, Leo recalled the decades he had spent sharing Peruvians’ lives, listening to their concerns and learning from their faith. He described his return as personally significant and said his acquisition of Peruvian citizenship in 2015 reflected an attachment built over many years. He previously served in Peru as an Augustinian missionary and was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. On Thursday, November 12, he is scheduled to meet Peru’s bishops, preside over midday prayer in Lima’s cathedral and attend a gathering in the square outside focused on Peruvians’ challenges and hopes. His itinerary also includes a return to Chiclayo on Friday, with Mass at Pampas de Pimentel.